Food Thickeners Market Report 2026

The food thickeners market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $14.16 billion in 2025 to $15.21 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of processed food consumption, rising use of convenience foods, growth of bakery and dairy industries, availability of starch-based thickeners, increasing formulation standardization.

The food thickeners market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $20.34 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing preference for natural texturizing agents, rising demand for low-fat and low-sugar foods, expansion of ready-to-eat meal consumption, growing innovation in hydrocolloid blends, increasing focus on sensory food quality. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for plant-based and clean-label thickeners, rising use of hydrocolloids in processed foods, growing adoption of texture-optimizing ingredients, expansion of multi-functional thickening agents, enhanced focus on consistent food texture control.

The extensive application in the food and beverage industry is anticipated to drive the growth of the food thickeners market in the future. The food and beverage industry encompasses companies involved in food processing, packaging, and the distribution of both packaged and freshly prepared dishes, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Food thickeners support this industry by increasing the viscosity of food and beverages while maintaining their consistency. For example, in July 2024, the India Food Services Report-2024, published by the National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI), an organization focused on the restaurant industry in India, noted that the food services sector contributes 1.9% to India’s GDP and is projected to grow from INR 5.69 trillion ($68 billion) to INR 7.76 trillion ($92 billion) by 2028. This growth represents a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1% from 2024 to 2028, highlighting the sector's resilience and potential within the country's economy. Therefore, the extensive use of food thickeners in the food and beverage industry is driving the growth of the food thickener market.

Major companies in the food thickeners market are continually innovating with products such as ThickenUp Clear. ThickenUp Clear is a food and beverage thickener made from xanthan gum, offering a tasteless, colorless, odorless, and amylase-resistant solution. An example of such innovation is evident in the launch by Nestlé, a Switzerland-based food company, of ThickenUp Clear in January 2023. This particular thickener is designed to aid individuals with swallowing difficulties, particularly oropharyngeal dysphagia.

In July 2024, Tate & Lyle, a UK-based supplier of food and beverage products for both food and industrial markets, announced its agreement to acquire CP Kelco for $1.8 billion. This acquisition is anticipated to significantly strengthen Tate & Lyle's market position in the expanding specialty food ingredients sector. CP Kelco is a US-based manufacturer of nature-based specialty food ingredients.

Major companies operating in the food thickeners market are Cargill Incorporated, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Ingredion Incorporated, Ashland Global Holdings Inc., CP Kelco ApS, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Kerry Group plc, Darling Ingredients Inc., Tate & Lyle PLC, Guar Resources LLC, Deosen Biochemical (Ordos) Ltd., GELITA AG, Solvay S.A., VIKAS WSP Ltd., Koninklijke DSM N.V., Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG, DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences ApS, Biorigin SA, Fuerst Day Lawson, FMC Corporation, Naturex, Nexira, Palsgaard A/S, Premium Ingredients International, Taiyo International, TIC Gums Inc., W Hydrocolloids Inc.

Europe was the largest region in the food thickeners market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the food thickeners market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the food thickeners market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The food thickeners market consists of sales of starches, vegetable gums, pectin, eggs, collagen, gelatin, blood albumin. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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